Airborne phenotyping to assess impacts of fire management on one of our worst weeds
Theme: Biodiversity and conservation science, Ecology genetics and evolution, Environmental management
Description:
Fire is a natural ecological process which has profoundly influenced plant evolution and ecology. However, contemporary changes in fire regimes and invasive plant species are threatening thousands of species with extinction. Reintroducing low intensity fire at the right time of year and the right frequency can restore native ecosystems. Unfortunately, however, woody invasive plant species complicate this process as they can be difficult to burn when conditions are safe to do so. On the other hand, when fuel is very dry, these same woody weeds can greatly increase wildfire fire severity, with negative impacts on soil biota and native plant species.
In Australia, the woody weed Lantana camara is listed as one of 32 Weeds of National Significance as it spreads prolifically, outcompetes native species, and increases fuel biomass for wildfire. Reintroducing fire has potential to reduce Lantana cover, but monitoring these effects is difficult. On-ground surveys are labour intensive and inefficient, while remotely sensed satellite products are usually too coarse to identify individual plant species. Airborne phenotyping, such as drones equipped with RGB and / or multi-spectral imaging hardware, potentially circumvents some of these problems, providing resolution at scales suitable for woody weed management.
In this project, we will leverage on an ongoing fire management experiment in southeast Queensland where cool winter burning has been reintroduced into grassy woodland ecosystems over the past four years. On ground surveys have identified positive effects of burning on native plant species and declines in Lantana after fire. While promising, the results from fine scale surveys (1m2 to 5m2) can not provide sufficient information about management effects at larger scales. Using mobile phenotyping technology, this project will produce modest-resolution multi-spectral imagery from UAV flights over 10 burnt and 10 unburnt areas. We will identify the spectral signature of Lantana using new and existing analytical methods, and quantify the impact of fire management on Lantana cover.
Additional Information:
The student will have the opportunity to develop advanced GIS and analytical skills. The project would suit students with a background or interest in environmental management, conservation science, quantitative biology, spatial analysis, ecology and / or botany.
Working in collaboration with land management agencies, the results from this project will directly inform the design of an effective fire management program for the region more broadly.
Contact: Dr Annabel Smith